How to Keep Deer from Being Afraid of Darting

Make Darting Deer Easier I pulled a dead doe and dead fawn out today. More EHD. Getting used to the stench of death. Darted 7. One young buck comes up for cookies. I darted him out the front door with it barely cracked open after I through him a pile of cookies. As a note for those who dart, everyone knows how difficult it can be to dart multiple times. Even others in the pen start to get nervous. I like to shoot from inside the truck with the gun propped low on the door frame in an open window. As soon as I dart I start throwing cookies. Often the darted deer comes up with the dart still hanging out to eat them. I get out with the gun while they are eating so they can see it while they are getting treats. I studied deer behavior for two masters degrees and that education included studies on many animal behaviors. I took two courses on training horses through behavior modification. Darting is a negative stimulus. Feeding cookies is a positive one. Feeding cookies after darting reinforces a positive influence that will help override the negative one. I'm getting plenty of practice but I'd like for it to be over!!!

Consulting is Satisfying

I did some consulting this week for a family planning to start a deer breeding and hunting business. We went over many issues such as pen location and design. The reason for the design to promote smooth flow when moving the deer in the breeding pens. Other issues discussed were health, behavior, death loss, fawn additions, etc. We looked at a 4-yr outlook to determine what the outcome should be based on the first year investment. Even with the realization of death losses it was wonderful to see the excitement in their eyes. I hope I will always provide an honest assessment of my client's goals but instill in them the love of working with these awesome animals.

Consulting for the Deer Industry

I offer consulting service for the deer industry. Topics include: Handling facilities Pen design Behavior How to handle deer Health EHD/BT Nutrition

Does bred to 500" genetics for sale

We will have some does bred to 500" genetics this year. The does are out of some lines that have produced very nice mid-200" main frame typicals. Adding 500" genetics will increase the inches while maintaining some very nice mainframes. Contact me to put down a deposit to hold them. Delivery can be arranged.

EHD Continues to Gain Ground in Research Importance

I met a young woman at the TDA convention who is working on her Ph, D . She is taking on a big task in the big state of Texas. Her research will determine the distribution of the Culicoides. She has a daunting job but it shows that EHD is continually getting more attention. I put her in contact with Dr. Lane Foil at LSU. Dr. Foil is an expert veterinary entomologist with a long background in work with the Culicoides. Good news for all of us in the deer industry.

Dart Location for Whitetails for Drug Delivery

This is an ideal location for dart impact on a deer. Good muscle mass to absorb the impact. Good blood supply for drug uptake. More margin for error.

Darting deer with more than one drug using 2 darts

You're not supposed to mix drugs even though some seem to work well. Did you know you can piggy back darts? Put the first dart in with one drug then stick the next one behind it with a different drug. I learned this from Keith Amass DVM, founder of Safe Capture International.  You'll have to practice playing around with pressures to see what your POI will be. The second dart will likely be slightly lower than the first. That's a lot better than shooting a deer with one dart then trying to get close enough for the next.  If you're treating for EHD, you could use a compounded Dexamethasone strong enough to put in a small dart and then follow that with a second dart of antibiotics.

EHD Research Funding for Louisiana State University

LSU is conducting extensive research on EHD and how the vector Culicoides sp. causes the virus to infect whitetails.  This work is extremely important to deer breeders and sportsman alike because large numbers of deer can die from EHD and Blue Tongue each year whether they are in breeding operations or in the wild.  The deaths in the wild may go largely unnoticed because when a deer is sick it seeks out dense cover to hide in.  If they die there, within days the carcass is reduced to bones in the heat of summer.  In the fall during hunting season the remains would seldom be discovered.

LSU has taken a different approach to their research at their newly established Wildlife Institute.  Vaccines produced so far have been largely unsuccessful.  Instead of culturing the virus from infected deer to produce a vaccine, they will determine why the virus doesn't infect the deer if injected into them.  For the deer to become infected it seems that the gnat has to bite them.  They believe that there may be a component of the saliva that is triggering something that allows the virus to become infectious in the animal.  If they can isolate what causes the infection, they can produce a vaccine that can be challenge-tested.  If successful, this may be the first vaccine that is actually effective in controlling these devastating diseases.  If a vaccine can be produced and made for oral use, it may prove to be very important in preventing catastrophic deaths in the wild.

Any sportsman that loves the whitetail and wants to keep a healthy population to hunt should be interested in this new research.  If you know of anyone, a company or organization that can help with funding please contact me and I'll get you in touch with someone at LSU that will be happy for the assistance.  Their research facility will not be a fancy new building.  Their money will go to staff and equipment.  It will not be wasted.  They have been very eager to work with our Whitetails of Louisiana organization.  We hope to form a close working relationship with them because we see first hand how devastating this disease is.  Thanks for your interest in this new era of EHD research.

EHD research on the Culicoides sp. midge

I'm trapping insects every 2 weeks until it freezes for the summer and fall of 2012 at our Whitetail Rack Ranch for LSU.  LSU established a new Wildlife Institute under their Ag Dept and will be doing intensive EHD research.  If you have information on which species of the Culicoides are in your area at various times of the year and which serotype of EHD or BT please let me know.  The data will be valuable to their study.  They have suggested that the reason the current vaccines are not very effective is that there is a component that is yet undiscovered causing the infectious stage of the virus.  LSU has injected the pure virus into deer without them getting sick.  Culicoides biting the deer does get them sick.  They believe there is something going on with the insect that causes the infection.  It could be a component of the saliva.  A breakthrough in what triggers the virus to become infectious will be a huge step towards producing a vaccine that can be challenge tested.  If it works, we can all benefit from an effective vaccine.  I'll be happy to forward information to them but it has to be EHD cases that have been verified through a diagnostic lab.  Thanks!!!

Buck attitudes changing in early August

Seeing a very subtle change in attitude among my bucks at Whitetail Rack Ranch. A little more aggression and paying a little more attention to does in the other pens. They must be starting to think about what's coming up!! Our Captain Crunch will immediately go into solitary confinement when he sheds velvet. When I'm feeding him cookies I'm beginning to see the tendency for him to roll those eyes! He doesn't like me touching his antlers anymore. They are a little more aloof and not quite as good buddies now. We'll be cutting antlers off before long. Sad not to be able to watch them in their glory this winter.

EHD Treatment with Dexamethasone

I've had a few EHD cases. Having good luck with Dexamethasone. I had it compounded to 12mg/ml. I can give a strong 24mg dose in a 2cc dart. In my opinion most people I know using Dexamethasone aren't hitting them hard enough. I discussed dosage with my vet and that's what has been working for us. I can shoot dex once and usually see improvement the next day. Talk to your vet about dosages and compounding. Be sure to give it with an antibiotic. It's been a miracle drug for me. I may give dex for several days if necessary but I'll give a bump of the antibiotics a few days after the initial dose.